“Lass?”
Her shoulders drooped as if she’d been caught with a finger in the honey-crock, but she still wouldnae look at him. “To be honest, Reggie, I was hoping for…” She took a breath and gave him a challenging look. “Fine. I’ll just say it. You keep talking about leaving and I wanted some time…without a crowd…before you go.”
He grinned, more pleased than he dared admit. “Ye’re sure?”
“Well, I’m not going to say it again, if that’s what you’re hinting at.” Her narrow-eyed warning drew a laugh from deep in his chest.
She smiled with him, then her expression quickly shifted to uncertainty. “But, I don’t want to miss the croft, either. Will you stay the night, so we can go tomorrow?”
At his hesitation, she moved closer, grasped both his hands, and looked up at him. Her green eyes, more sage now, in the sunlight, were imploring. “Please Reggie. Say you’ll stay. I… I’d really like you to.”
He kissed her. ’Twas quick and light and surprised him as much as it did her. “Ye’ve a winsome way of cajoling a lad.” He grinned to cover the awkwardness.
“You’ll stay then?” She beamed, clearly knowing she’d won.
He nodded. “Tae see the croft, and tae talk more with Drew, if he’s willin’. And mayhap his parents. I’d like tae ken what bits of history they’ve discovered about the area. Specifically, durin’ The Risin’.”
“Drew said they were history buffs. Or was it genealogy enthusiasts? Either way, It can’t hurt to talk to them.”
“Aye.”
Taking her arm, he steered her toward the crag, where the old graveyard sat on the wee knoll, at the base of the hill. He was both anxious and apprehensive about what he’d find, there. But he’d come here for answers. ’Twas time he searched them out.
Chapter Ten
Reginald couldnae help stealing glances at Lauren, as he walked closer beside her than was likely proper. He’d been trying to decide if ’twas her, or her hair that smelled so good. She’d pulled her auburn curls up, into a kind of a tail that bounced with each step. He’d had to curl his fist to keep from touching it. Though, he already kenned its softness. The memory of it against his cheek last night, still lingered in his mind.
“I’m relieved yer ankle is better,” he said, to take his mind off touching her. “But what about yer, uh, bruises?” He nodded toward the shapely curve of her backside.
She sucked in a breath. “How do you know I have bruises, there?”
“Ye spent a good deal o’ time last night, rubbin’ the general area. So, I just assumed,” he chuckled.
She started to protest, then gave up and laughed with him. “Guilty. I’ll admit to a little stiffness, but nothing a good walk won’t straighten out.”
“I’m more than glad that ye came, but still, ’tis a good distance tae the gravesites. Mayhap we should have gone tae the croft, instead. ’Twould have been a shorter and much easier walk.”
She cocked her head to one side, brows dipped in puzzlement. “How do you know how far it is to either one? Or how difficult?”
His pulse kicked up a notch as he sought a reasonable explanation for his blunder. “I… I’m sure Phoebe must have mentioned it.”
“Really?” she questioned. “I don’t recall her saying anything about it.”
He scrambled for a way to distract her questioning. “Is yer sore…ah…area, why ye dinnae wish tae ride?”
When she glanced up at him, her puzzlement looked more like irritation. “I told you why I didn’t want to ride. Why are you bringing it up, again?”
“Weel… ’Tis a beautiful day. A beautiful valley. And…I kenned Drew…”
“YoukennedDrew…what?”
“Would have enjoyed yer company,” he spat out, in a rush.
It vexed him to see Lauren’s chin quiver as she tried to contain her smile. “Ye disagree?”
Her smile broke free, despite her efforts. “Most definitely. I’m not sure how you’ve missed it, but Drew’s attention is all on Julia. And hers, on him. But she’s too shy to do anything about it and he’s too much of a gentleman. So, they’re both suffering in silence.”
Now ’twas his turn to hide his smileandhis relief. Though ’twas of no consequence. Lauren’s life, her future, were already decided and they dinnae include a rusty Jacobite with no skills and no future of his own. How was a man to offerthatto a lass?
